snake Hear it!

snake Definition

snake (snāk)

noun

  1. any of a limbless suborder (Serpentes, order Squamata) of reptiles with an elongated, scaly body, lidless eyes, and a tapering tail: some species have a poisonous bite
  2. a treacherous or deceitful person
  3. a plumber's tool consisting of a long, flexible rod of spiraled wire for removing obstructions from pipes, etc.

Etymology: ME < OE snaca, akin to ON snakr, MLowG snake: for IE base see snail

intransitive verb snaked, snak′·ing

to move, curve, twist, or turn like a snake

transitive verb

  1. to clear obstructions from (a pipe, drain, etc.) by means of a snake ()
  2. ☆ Informal to drag or pull, esp. lengthwise and with force
  3. Informal to pull quickly

snake Related Forms
snake′·like′ adjective
snake Synonyms

snake

n.

reptile, serpent, vermin*; see rattlesnake.

Common snakes include: viper, asp, pit viper, moccasin, water moccasin, copperhead, rattlesnake, rattler, cottonmouth, sidewinder, black snake, bull snake, chicken snake, coachwhip snake, coral snake, fox snake, garter snake, gopher snake, king snake, milk snake, arrow snake, water snake, garden snake, green snake, rat snake, sea snake, boa, boa constrictor, cobra, aboma, adder, milk adder, puffing adder, blowing adder, puff adder, anaconda, python, death adder, krait, black mamba, green mamba, tiger snake, fer-de-lance.

snake Usage Examples

Converse of subject

  • bite: A man is bitten by a snake, he drags a boat out into the river to find help.

Converse of object

  • rattle: Kansas was also the first place I saw a live rattle snake.
  • coil: Ornaments include a temple to Surya the sun god, and a snake coiled around a column in the Snake Pond.
  • hiss: These were laid out to create shapes such as a hissing snake, mosques, stars and crescent moons.

Adjective modifier

  • venomous: Venomous snakes are found throughout the world; they are even lurking in our oceans.
  • poisonous: Of course, a poisonous snake in a confined space COULD be scary indeed!
  • two-headed: She looked almost human, but she was born with a two-headed snake around her neck like her father.
  • deadly: I for one am glad that my Easter faith does not depend on handling deadly snakes or drinking poison.
  • giant: Stukeley saw the Avebury site as a giant snake, representing God's creative power, crossing a huge circle which symbolized God.

Modifies a noun

  • charmer: Snake charming - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The first task a would-be snake charmer must tackle is to get a snake.
  • venom: Instead, chemists studied the structure of the proteins from the snake venom.
  • bite: Most deaths from snake bites occur on the Indian subcontinent where they are often forced into contact with humans.
  • pipefish: Most pipefish species are coastal or inshore, but the snake pipefish is the only one described as an open sea or oceanic species.
  • salesman: Your comment on " web accessibility snake oil salesmen " really hit home for me.
  • goddess: Stories cover some of the major Hindu deities, including Krishna, Rama, Durga and the snake goddess Manasa.

Noun used with modifier

  • garter: The following data gives the snout vent length ( in cm ) of 8 newly born garter snakes bred in captivity.
  • grass: Look out too for grass snake soaking up the sun close to the footpath.
  • corn: Collect from London W2 ( United Kingdom ) Please note: Corn snakes are carnivores and require whole.. .
  • trouser: Recently the california trouser snake was stranded up in the western isles on Barra for a week with.. .
  • chrome: Hard chrome snakes and tip with lined stripping rings.
snake Quotes

The world's great age begins anew, The golden years return, The earth doth like a snake renew Her winter weeds outworn; Heaven smiles, and faiths and empires gleam, Like wrecks of a dissolving dream.

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe

Are not your kisses then as filthy, and more, As a worm sucking an envenomed sore? Doth not thy fearful hand in felling quake, As one which gathering flowers, still fears a snake? Is not your last act harsh, and violent, As when a plough a stony ground doth rent?

—Donne,John

A greyhound should be heeded lyke a snake, And neckyd lyke a drake, Backed lyke a bream, Footed lyke a catte, Taylled lyke a ratte.

—Berners, DameJuliana or Juliana Barnes   fl.14c

   An open place it was, and overlooked, From high, the sullen water far beneath, On which a dull red image of the moon Lay bedded, changing oftentimes its form Like an uneasy snake.

—Wordsworth,William

Frankly speaking, it is difficult to trust the Chinese.Once bitten bya snake, you feel suspicious even when you see a piece of rope.

—Dalai Lama originally Tenzin Gyatso

A perfumed parlor snake.

—Dunne, Philip

The hearings are just like a snake about to devour people.

—Nixon, Pat

Latet anguis in herba. A snake lurks in the grass.

—Virgil full name Publius Vergilius Maro